Blue Peter

In all of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the classic children's TV magazine show 'Blue Peter' there has been no mention of the most tragic of all the presenters, Michael Sundin. He was a presenter on the show for one (maybe two) sometime around the late '70s/early '80s, and was intended to be one of the shows great 'action figures', ala John Nookes, but, as I recall, it was discovered that, horror of horrors, he might be gay!

I can't really give a rating for a programme that's ran for 54 years and had over thirty presenters.For me, the best era was 1999-2004, particularly the early 2000s.

Now here's a television program for kids that is as safe and sanitised as any responsible parent could wish for. It started way back in 1958 and yet - lo and behold - it just keeps on going.

Blue Peter is a British institution. EVERYONE has been brought up on it's mix of sticky back plastic, papier-mache, toilet rolls and pipe cleaners.

Blue Peter is one of those programmes that your parents watched, you ahve watched, and your children will likely watch. It was launched in 1958 as part of "Children's Hour" on the BBC Television Service and lasted 15 minutes once a week with hosts Leila Williams and Christopher Trace.

And that is no exaggeration at all, I assure you! Literally everyone grows up watching this programme and have done for almost 50 years (since it started in 1958).

This programme is a great institution and part of childhood for anyone growing up in the UK in the second half of the 20th century or the early 21st century. It is full of interesting items and coveys the message that nothing in life is dull or uninteresting.

It may be stuffed away on a Freeview channel these days but lets not forget the fact that 'Blue Peter' is an institution of British TV, and an iconic kids show, having been launched way back in 1958.It deserves all the plaudits, it really does.